Broadcom Ethernet Adapter not working...

Question

I have an Inspiron 5100 with a Broadcom 440x Ethernet Adapter that will not function. I have owned the laptop for about 2 years with no problems until this past weekend. The light on the ethernet adapter and/or the router port will not light up when the ethernet cable is plugged in. The cable is brand new and I have tested it on other devices on my network. I have ran ad-aware, virus scan, and winsockxpfix with no luck. After reading back several months I have seen where others have had the same problem with no luck. My wireless card works fine. If there is anyone out there that could help me resolve this issue your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

volcano11 · Answer

If the network light won't light up it means that either (1) the cable is bad, but you seemed to have ruled that out, (2) the device it is connecting to is bad, or (3) the network adapter is bad. If other computers can connect to the same device, (2) can be ruled out. For (3) start by reinstalling the drivers for the network card. If that doesn't fix it, try running the Broadcom diagnostics (Start > All Programs > Broadcom Advanced Control Suite).

Steve

C-Redd · Answer

Steve, I have tried all of the above. There is nothing wrong with the router because I have other devices connected. There is nothing wrong with the network card since I have connected directly to my broadband modem and the green light comes on indicating that everything is fine. Since so many people are having this problem, I assume that this is a Dell problem that even they can't figure out. Thanks for your help. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

volcano11 · Answer

If it can connect directly to the broadband modem, it says the network card is good. There should be absolutely no difference in connecting it to the router. What makes you say it is a Dell problem then? Are you sure the particular router port is good?

Steve

C-Redd · Answer

I know the router port is good because I have plugged other devices into that port  with no problems. I say that it seems like a Dell problem because if you read deeper into this forum others have had the same problems with no remedy.

volcano11 · Answer

I read these forums every day and I would say that 90% of the problems eventually get solved. The ones that don't, we don't know about because the original poster doesn't post back to tell us. I gave you three reasons that the light on the network card doesn't light up. Since the network card works when connecting directly to the modem, that eliminates the network card as the problem. Since the only device that is on your Dell computer that has anything to do with the problem is the network card. It looks to me like the Dell computer is eliminated from the problem. That leaves the router and the cable. You say you have eliminated these as the problem as well. If you are absolutely sure that the router and the cable are not the cause of the problem, then I guess you have one of the few totally unresolvable problems. I can't count the number of times I have gone back and forth with a user who insists that the cable cannot be the problem, only to find that after doing everything else, the only solution was to completely replace the cable. Good luck.

Steve

C-Redd · Answer

Three brand new cables cannot be the problem. I have even swapped the working cables that I have on my network. Do you work for Dell?

volcano11 · Answer

Do you work for Dell?  No

C-Redd · Answer

Unfortunately Benvolio, no one has been able to help with my problem. I will post once I have a fix, but as for now I have nothing.

Benvolio · Answer

I have a 600m with a Broadcom card... For the past six weeks, it has given me problems and I cannot udnerstand why.   From time to time it works, and when it doesn't, I look it up on the Device Manager and it does not show under the Network Adapters section... It is as if it un-installs itself.   I have tried reinstalling the drivers when this happens, but I have no luck.   I have tried launching the Broadcom Advanced Control Suite, but it does not find an active Broadcom adapter...   Both lights are lit on the card right now, but sometimes it doesn't even do that.   My router's lights are off on that port (I have tried switching ports, but they all work with other devices, and the cable works fine for my other laptop).   Thanks for your insights!

BQNick · Answer

I have had the same problem with my Inspiron 600m.  The Broadcom Ethernet Adapter has simply disappeared from Device Manager.  This is so frustrating.  No form of Dell tech support has been helpful.  I've been told to re-install Windows XP to rule out a hardware problem.  That's crazy...I should not have to do something that drastic.

mjmeeuwsen · Answer

I have been having a similar problem with my 600m. A few months ago the Broadcom NIC stopped working for no apparent reason. Since then, it intermitently detects in device manager, but usually comes up as an "Unknown Device". I ran the Broadcom control suite, and at the NIC didn't pass the hardware test. Dell support was no help, and the machine is out of warranty. I'm assuming that the hardware is fried, although I'm not sure why.

-M

System:
Dell 600m 1.3Ghz 256MB
Broadcom 570 Gigabit NIC

Knowledgebase · Answer

Same problem, Bopping around on the forums it appears to be common. I am guessing I may have a fried one too, but I can't downgrade my BIOS to try to fix.

here is my rant.
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_network&message.id=31423#M31423

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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